Greatest Good for the Greatest Number Free Essays

Michael Sandel lectures on justice throughout two episodes. Episode 1 Part one â€Å"The Moral Side of the Murder† has three cases that demonstrate how to recognize moral selflessness and cope with consequences. These cases also show us how they move us to act and the opportunities that exist from those actions. We will write a custom essay sample on Greatest Good for the Greatest Number or any similar topic only for you Order Now The moral rightness of these cases can maximize consequentiality moral reasoning and can also locate morality in certain duties and rights which is categorical reasoning. In the first case driving the trolley and killing one worker rather than five is not considered an act of murder according to students from Sandels discussions. The majority expressed consequentialist moral reasoning. As an onlooker on a bridge looking at the trolley, some students would not push a fat man over the bridge to save the five workers, they said that the act would be committing murder; therefore the consequences are complex and categorical. When asked about a surgeon removing five organs from one healthy individual to save the lives of five other individuals, the majority of the students did not agree to be morally correct. In this example the greatest number was compromised because of moral reasoning. Episode 1 Part two, â€Å"The Case for Cannibalism† is a real life story that asks the question if the four survivors of the Mignonette ship were morally justified. Brooks, Dudley, Stevens and Parker had been on a life boat for 19 days. Parker’s decision to drink the salt water put him in a vulnerable position that ended his life by cannibalism to save the rest. By day twenty-four, Brooks, Dudley and Stevens were rescued and arrested. The majority of the students agreed to try them while the minority asked the question to what degree of necessity would exonerate them. It was discussed if the three survivors would benefit the community or be a danger to society for being cannibalistic. The key point by Sandel and the students was that adding consent would make a difference in the trial. Kantian ethics was preferred instead of Bentham’s utilitarianism theory. Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill have different proposals on utilitarianism. â€Å"Jeremy Bentham identified good consequences with pleasure, which is measured in terms of intensity, duration, certainty, propinquity, fecundity, purity, and extent. John Stuart Mill argued that pleasures differ in quality as well as quantity and that the highest good involves the highest quality as well as quantity of pleasure. † There is no agreement on which theories count as consequentiality under this definition therefore skepticism will always exist. Episode 2 Part One â€Å"Putting a Price Tag on Life† was focused on Bentham’s theory of act-utilitarian. Cost benefit analysis was a huge focus on this topic. This analysis involves placing a dollar value to stand for utility. The first case took place in Czech Republic encouraging the citizens to smoke. The company Philip Morris conducted a cost benefit analysis and had the highest gain which included early death from smoking to benefit the government or other people. Decision to smoke was a qualitative risk factor since there was known probabilities. This objection to utilitarianism fails to respect individual and minority rights and is not possible to total a dollar value on human life. Another study that examined placing a dollar value on human life, was done by psychologist Edward Thorndike. He conducted a survey in the 1930’s for the purpose of placing a dollar amount with various scenarios. The choices of living in a farm in Kansas, pulling off a front tooth, cutting off a toe and eating a worm all had a value. The majority favored as the highest pleasure to live in a farm in Kansas. Episode 2 Part Two â€Å"How to Measure Pleasure† discusses the levels of pleasure. The examples of choosing the highest pleasure between Shakespeare, Simpsons or Fear Factor were based on culture and education. Students reasoned that Shakespeare voted the highest because this is presented throughout the school years. But if given a choice between Shakespeare, seasons of the Simpsons as the only pleasure for life, majority ruled I favor of Shakespeare for intellect purposes. The Simpsons for entertaining purposes were voted second and Fear Factor last. To test the highest pleasure, people would have to experience all to pick the very best. John Stuart Mill said that utility is the only standard of morality therefore you must experience both pleasures. The similarities between Episode 1 and 2, was that categorical moral reasoning was preferred. Circumstances dictated those whom decided that the greatest good was for the greatest number. In contrast, more utilitarian and consequential moral reasoning emphasis was found in Episode 1 than in episode 2. The moral of the story that philosopher Bentham suggested was that â€Å"Here in life and in death is a man who adhered to the principals of his philosophy. † References http://www. questia. com/read/1E1-utilitar/utilitarianism http://onbiostatistics. blogspot. com/2010/02/cost-benefit-analysis-put-dollar-value. html How to cite Greatest Good for the Greatest Number, Essay examples

Role of Leadership Styles in Enhancing Organization’s Innovation

Question: Discuss about the Role of Leadership Styles in Enhancing Orgainzation's Innovative Capacity. Answer: Overview Leadership has been evident for as long as individuals have existed and interacted. It is present in every sphere and culture, regardless of its economic, political and social composition. The majority of the leadership studies is carried out in the context of private sector and organizations. But the leadership style practiced in the public sector is just as important, and this has been long recognized by all. There is generally a gap that is observed in the leadership style adopted in Abu Dhabis government sector. And not just Abu Dhabi, the studies of functioning of public sector all over the world have long been overlooked (Koech Namusonge, 2012). The public sectors have been following the rules established long back and hardly any change or innovative practice is being observed here. However, people have now started to realize the importance of the same. The citizens and policymakers of Abu Dhabi generally turn to bigger economies like US, UK etc. to learn about leadership, but studies conducted on the leadership styles in the UAE have suggested that the leadership pattern followed here is just as good and we must be given a chance to demonstrate a leadership style that is consistent with our own culture and national identity. This research proposal has a precise aim of going into the depth of the functioning of Abu Dhabis government sector and analyze the leadership style and structure practiced in the government organizations here. We aim to establish the dependency of the government sectors innovative capacity on the leadership style followed there. This will give us an insight into the working of the Abu Dhabis government sector and with that we will be able to find out ways to make it more adaptive of innovative ideas and hence more efficiently (Chowdhary, 2014). Research questions The Research questions are the statements that allow the research process to be directed in a particular direction. As the report aims to evaluate why the automobile industry faced such crisis and what it has done to deal with the crisis, the following Research Questions could be set for this study: What kind of leadership style is practiced in the government sector of Abu Dhabi? Do the employees of government sector consider the leadership style to be effective? What is the impact of leadership style on the innovative capacity of the organization? Is there any significant change in the leadership style in the Abu Dhabi government sector over the years? How can the leadership style be optimized to maximize employee output and make the government sector more open to innovative practices? As with most research reports, the results generated from this study will be limited to the confines of the case study only. Although the Research report will focus more on the government sector of Abu Dhabi, but at the same time the findings could also help the private sectors of our nation as well as others to effectively study their leadership style and also help the policy makers to draw practical implications and redesign their structure in the way most suitable for them and their employees. Objectives The objectives of this research include: To use a survey questionnaire to find out the leadership style practiced in the Abu Dhabi government sector. To gauge the general sentiment of the employees of government sector employees towards the leadership style being followed. To find out the current sentiment of government sector employees towards innovative practices. To determine through the survey and suggestions offered how the leadership style can be improved and how this sector can be made innovation friendly. Literature review In this section we are going to study the literature published related to our topic of research. We are going to study what leadership is, its relevance and the various leadership styles. We are also going to study the leadership styles being practiced in the government sector of Abu Dhabi and its effect on the employee motivation levels. The leadership style and its role in the sectors innovative capacity will also be studied. Leadership is defined as an individuals ability to influence a group towards realization of a common objective. Leaders are required to motivate their group members to improve their performance and help them motivate towards achieving the desired goals. Leadership is the ability to deal with and cope up with change while focusing on the long term goals and the big picture (Kruse, 2013). It is the ability to take risks and not always take the safe path, but strive to achieve even more. A leader in a team is a person who delegates, influences and motivates others to act so as to achieve specified objectives. He is anyone who has followers and is able to covert the vision of the team into reality. But with changing times, the expectations of a leader are also changing. A leader is not just anyone heading a group of people, he is someone people look up to and the one who empowers the team to achieve not just the bare minimum but make them strive for more (Bass, 2000). The business writer Daniel has categorized different leadership styles. He suggested that all the leadership styles can be explained with the help of a scale as shown in the figure below ranging from autocratic through democratic to participative to showing a degree of authority and decision making power of leaders and employees of the organization. The first leadership style that we study is Autocratic Leadership. It is the kind of leadership where the leader forms and dictates the rules and expects instant obedience form the followers without any argument. This kind of leadership is a directorial leadership and the leader never really becomes a part of the them but merely directs the team from above. The entire decision making power in an autocratic leadership style is with the team leader and an autocratic leader rarely recognize and expects absolute obedience from the team. This leadership is action oriented and is useful for short term goal achievement. Another leadership style is democratic leadership. This is theoretically defined as the best type of leadership. In this type of leadership, the leader does not simply makes the rules, but takes the opinion of each team member of the same. The opinions and taken and once the group reach a consensus, the leader simply validates the decision taken. A leadership style is said t o be participative leadership when the group members take part in the decision making process. The leader asks for the opinions of the members, and they are informed continuously of the decision making process. In this kind of leadership, the members as well as the latter are allowed to debate and discuss and suggest changes to the policies formed from the working of the team (Iqbal, et al., 2015). Nanjundeswaraswamy T. S. and Swamy D. R have studied the different styles of leadership and their effect on the quality of work life. Their research suggests that effective leadership style is necessary to reduce the attrition rate of the organization and is absolutely needed for the achievement of organizational goals in an effective manner. Their research concluded that the leadership style, work satisfaction and organizational commitment are interrelated. They have further classified the leadership styles into transformational and transactional leadership. To understand a little about each of these, a transformational leadership focuses on the development of the individuals as well as their needs. The organizations following transformational leadership concentrate on the developments of the members value system and their growth. As suggested by the name, the aim of transformational leadership is to transform and evolve the organizations members literally. The leader following tran sformational leadership upholds the best interest of the members and encourage them to achieve more. This kind of leadership has recorded high levels of satisfaction in the organization and higher levels of team spirit in the members. On the other hand, a transactional leadership is the one where the followers are expected to meet the specified goals or performance criteria. It can be more simply explained as an exchange of work and rewards between the manager and subordinates. It works on the principle of rules enforcement, contingent rewards and corrective actions (Nanjundeswaraswamy Swamy, 2014). The leaders practicing this form of leadership rely on rewards and punishment in order to drive the individuals to achieve the goals and targets. In their research, Mai Ngoc Khuong and Dang Thuy Hoang have studied the effect of leadership style on the motivation level of the employees. Their research suggested a strong connection between the leadership style practiced in the organization and their motivation level and retention in the organization in the long term. This research indicated that the relation-oriented leadership, charismatic leadership and ethic-based contingent reward leadership were positive contributors in employee motivation levels (Khuong Hoang, 2015). Emirates of Abu Dhabi has seen remarkable progress in the past forty years. This has only been possible due to the impressive and well aligned leadership. The government has made the best possible use of nations available resources and to drive the social and economic developments forward (Government, 2008). The position of Abu Dhabi has changed with the overhaul in its economic landscape and we have emerged as a hub for travel and tourism industry, investment and businesses. In order to attract great talent and resources, Abu Dhabi had opened its economy in the world. This has worked in favor of our nation and we have been able to position ourselves well across the globe and managed to grow our economy sustainable at a great pace. In 2006, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan ordered the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development, the Department of Planning and General Secretariat of the Executive Council Economy to design a long-term economic vision for the Emirate (Alsowaidi, 2012). This order was given for the ongoing economic success of Abu Dhabi and to deliver upon the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Ruler of Abu Dhabi. 10 years down the line, the vision has already begun to substantiate and realize and all this has contributed to the exceptional leadership style of the Emirates. The Emirati leadership style focuses on family values, relationships, loyalty and engagement. Various reports have verified that the world has so much to learn from the emirate leadership style and the way we get things done. Researchers have even proclaimed that this leadership style should be thoroughly studied, defined, promoted and taught all over the world due to its high success rate. The government in Abu Dhabi is liberal and openly respectful of the ways of living and cultural differences among the people. This has made it a booming international focal point for both culture and commerce (Mogielnicki, 2014). Research methodology The research methodology is a plan devised and followed closely to get information on the chosen topic along with the detailed outline of the steps through which the required information will be collected, how the data will be gathered and the instruments that will be employed in the process of this research. This section of the research constitutes of the study, research questions, sample population, sample space, instruments for data collection, procedure for data collection and procedure for data analysis (Timothy Okwu, 2011). This research study will be a descriptive study of the answers received by the respondents of the survey carried out among the government employees, yielding qualitative information that will be summarized through statistical analysis. The study will be conducted in Abu Dhabi. The target population for the research will be people working in government sector who are full time employees and who are exposed to management studies and researches of similar fashion. The sample size of the research has been planned to be 500. The questionnaires will be distributed through print and email to the employees. Both primary and secondary sources of data will be used for data collection for the study. Listed below are the primary and secondary data sources that we plan on using. Primary data sources Direct questioning using techniques like personal interview, group discussion and questionnaire will be used to gather the required information. Secondary data sources The secondary published and unpublished data sources like internet articles, research reports, magazines, etc. will be used to collect information about the entire research process. The research involves collecting primary data using a structured questionnaire as a research instrument. A questionnaire is the most widely used data collection instruments. It helps gather information on attitudes, behaviors, opinions, facts, etc. It will comprise of close-ended questions and one open ended question asking for suggestions for improvement. The questionnaire will be designed to collect information on demographics of employees, their state of mind and attitude, the leadership style being followed and their work motivation. The research and analysis method for the research will be both qualitative and quantitative. The data collected through the questionnaire will be arranged and studied according to the requirement of the research. The collected data will be analyzed and processed in the graphs and charts after calculating the percentage (Babatunde, 2015). The inclination towards most favorable responses will be estimated that way. Quantitative methods of data analysis involve working with the collected data on the basis of quantity. Mathematical tools are used to draw conclusions regarding the study performed. We will also use correlation as a tool to calculate the relation between the leadership style and the dependency of the same on the overall work related satisfaction and motivational factors for the employees working in the government sector in Abu Dhabi Outcomes The data collected for the research through the questionnaire will be cross-sectional in nature. It is the most common method in applied and field psychological research. By the end of the data analysis, we hope we are able to gauge the sentiment of the employees towards the leadership style being practiced and how open their workplaces are towards innovation. We will calculate the dependency of the leadership styles on the motivation and satisfaction of the employees with their job. We also aim to gather suggestions to make the leadership styles in government sector better, so that it is more accepting of innovative practices. Timescale The intended duration of this research is one year. This includes the time for designing the questionnaire, collecting the data and processing it to come up with conclusions. The first few months will be taken to study and review the literature. This will include previously published reports and articles on topics related to our research topic. The questionnaire will be prepared and finalized in next 15days. Over a period of 2 months, we intend on collecting the data using the questionnaire in various government offices in Abu Dhabi. And the data will be then processed to draw conclusions and give suggestions to bring improvement in the currently practiced leadership style. References Alsowaidi, N., 2012. Abu Dhabi Competitiveness Report: Improving the Competitiveness of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Available at: https://ded.abudhabi.ae/en/ded-center/Competitiveness-Office-of-Abu-Dhabi/reports-and-studies/DED-Report-R8-ENG.pdf Babatunde, O., 2015. The Impact of Leadership Style on Employees Performance in an Organization. Public Policy and Administration Research , 5(1), pp. 1-14. Bass, B., 2000. The Future of Leadership in Learning Organizations. Journal of Leadership Organizational Studies, 7(8), pp. 1-24. Chowdhary, R., 2014. A study on the impact of leadership styles on employee motivation and commitment: an empirical study of selected organizations in corporate sector, Available at: https://www.dypatil.edu/schools/management/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/A-study-of-the-Impact-of-Leadership-Styles-on-Employee-Motivation-and-Commitment-An-empirical-study-of-selected-organisations-in-Corporate-sector-Rima-Chowdhury.pdf Government, A. D., 2008. The Abu Dhabi: Economic Vision 2030, Available at: https://www.ecouncil.ae/PublicationsEn/economic-vision-2030-full-versionEn.pdf Iqbal, N., Anwar, S. Haider, N., 2015. Effect of Leadership Style on Employee Performance. Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 5(5), pp. 1-6. Khuong, M. Hoang, D., 2015. The Effects of Leadership Styles on Employee Motivation in Auditing Companies. International Journal of Trade, Economics and Finance, August, 6(4), pp. 1-8. Koech, P. Namusonge, G., 2012. The Effect of Leadership Styles on Organizational Performance at State Corporations. International Journal of Business and Commerce, September, 2(1), pp. 01-12. Kruse, K., 2013. What Is Leadership?, Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2013/04/09/what-is-leadership/#184f24545b90 Mogielnicki, R., 2014. Based on studies in the UAE, the Gulf Leadership Style is an example for leaders worldwide, Professor tells International Management Conference in Oxford, Available at: https://www.zawya.com/story/Based_on_studies_in_the_UAE_the_Gulf_Leadership_Style_is_an_example_for_leaders_worldwide_Professor_tells_International_Management_Conference_in_Oxford-ZAWYA20140518125223/ Nanjundeswaraswamy, T. Swamy, D., 2014. Leadership styles: Advances In Management, Available at: https://www.mnsu.edu/activities/leadership/leadership_styles.pdf Timothy, O. Okwu, A., 2011. Effects of leadership style on organizational performance: A survey of selected small scale enterprises. Australian Journal of Business and Management Research, October, 1(7), pp. 1-12.

The Illegal Use of Marijuana

The use of illegal Marijuana in Canada has been the subject of discussion in the twenty first century. Canada is among the leading nations in the percentage use of illegal marijuana as stated in the World Drug Report of the year 2007. The same studies indicate that the report of the united nations illustrates that 16.8% of the Canadians aged between sixteen and sixty four years either smoked or took some derivatives of marijuana in the year 2006.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Illegal Use of Marijuana specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Although some reports indicate that the percentage use of marijuana may have decreased, research conducted by United Nations on Ontario students indicate that the trend is actually on the increase[1]. With that background in mind, this paper shall discuss some of the reasons behind the high usage rate as well as ways that can be used to reduce illegal usage of the drug in the co untry. There are many reasons that may have contributed to the high percentage use of Marijuana in Canada but high production of the drug in the country contributes greatly to the same. In reference to the production of cannabis which is used to make marijuana, Canada ranks third after North America and United States. Some areas such as British Columbia specialize in the illegal production of the drug. Further studies illustrate that the British Columbia specializes heavily not only in the production, but also in the sale of Cannabis and marijuana. Therefore, due to the high production, there is increased availability of the drug in the country. As a result, accessibility of the drug to the public is not a major problem. As much as illegal use of Marijuana is prohibited in Canada, there are still some laws that influence increased usage of the drug. Research indicates that the prosecution of people found in possession of marijuana is usually dependent on the amount. For instance, pe ople found in possession of less than fifteen grams may only get a criminal record or a fine of a certain amount of money. However, it is important to note that marijuana use in Canada is still illegal although people found in small possessions may not be taken to a court of law. However, most of the citizens and the organized gangs make use of such laws to propagate their illegal activities thus the reason why there is increased illegal usage[2]. There are a number of measures which can be taken to reduce illegal usage marijuana. Although the police and the criminal justice have been involved in the war against drugs, little has been achieved from their efforts. It is important to come up with other strategies which can help in the same. As studies of Martin[3] indicate, the government can establish laws that can prevent people found in possession of less than thirty grams from being taken to court.Advertising Looking for essay on health law? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Such a measure can be of help since the domestic market can be destroyed and that may affect the business of the organized gangs. In addition, some preventive programs targeting the young people should be set up. The money that was initially being used for prosecuting people can be used to fund such preventive programs. By so doing, it can be possible to curb the illegal use of marijuana. Apart from the presence of the organized gangs in Canada, research has indicated that increased production of marijuana as well as controversies over decriminization of marijuana and other drugs laws contribute greatly to the increased usage of the same. It is important to come up with measures that can destabilize the business of the organized gangs with an aim of reducing the usage of the drug. Lastly, research conducted has indicated that preventive programs as well as education to the youth can be effectively used to mitigate the problem. Biblio graphy Blackandred. Canada Leads World in Marijuana Use. 2010. Web. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. About Marijuana. 2010. Web. Martin, Keith. Decriminalize pot, destabilize gangs. 2009. Web. Footnotes Blackandred. Canada Leads World in Marijuana Use. 2010. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. About Marijuana. 2010. Martin, Keith. Decriminalize pot, destabilize gangs . 2009. This essay on The Illegal Use of Marijuana was written and submitted by user Leandro Z. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

truman s harry essays

truman s harry essays Truman was a simple honest man. His impact on world history however was much more than simple. In his life he would take part in both world wars and serve two terms in office as Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri, on May 8, 1884. His full name was Harry S. Truman. The S did not stand for anything but was put there to appease his two relatives whos names started with s. He was the eldest of three children with a younger brother Vivian, and a younger sister Mary Jane. His parents were not rich but his mother, Martha Ellen Young Truman, always found that money was there for piano lessons or books. Truman moved to Independence when he was six. He went to the Presbyterian Church and attended Sunday school (he met his future wife Elizabeth Wallace here). Truman began school at eight years of age. His two passions, reading and music, helped him gain a strong education and high grades. His large glasses and vast knowledge also alienated himself from other children. After graduating in 1901, his future was unclear. His poor eyesight barred him from military service and his families financial situation would not allow him to go on to college. Truman worked as a time keeper for thirty five dollars per month at Sante Fe Railroad. He still read up on histories and encyclopedias when he could find the time. He moved to Kansas City and worked as a clerk for the Kansas City Star, he then began work at the National Bank of Commerce and finally the Union National Banks book keeper. He returned home in 1906 after his grandfathers death. The family had inherited a farm in Grandview Missouri and for ten years Truman worked and became quite a successful farmer. He had his first small taste of politics when he joined the local democratic party organization, run by Mike Penergast. He was made Grandview Postmaster. Truman invested some money in Lead mines and then oil fields. He sold his stocks and enli...

Executive Level Report - Financial Analysis of AMD Research Paper

Executive Level Report - Financial Analysis of AMD - Research Paper Example This report is structured in such a manner that first section of this report describes brief description of the company which includes its history, comparison of the company with its industry and the ratio analysis with some other financial indicators. Section two mainly describes the stock performance of the company which emphasizes upon the fluctuations in the share prices along with the earning and dividends analysis of AMD. Recommendation is the last section which briefly highlights as whether HTC should go for making long-term contracts with AMD or not in the light of financial analysis conducted above. Description of Company Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is a listed entity in New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: AMD). The company started off its operations in 1969. The company mainly deals in semiconductor industry such that it manufactures microprocessors which are used in computers, mobile phones, tablets, gaming consoles, networks etc. Financial Ratio Analysis The best way to asses s the financial performance of any company is to make a financial analysis of the company through ratio analysis as it covers most of the parts of the financial statements in a very comprehensive and meaningful form. Under the following paragraphs, the ratio analysis of AMD is conducted in which the financial performance of AMD is analyzed and compared with that of the industry averages and its own previous years’ performance in respect of liquidity, profitability and efficiency of the company. Liquidity Analysis The current ratio describes as in order to pay a current liability of $1, how much current assets the company has. Overall, the current ratio of the company has increased from 1.07 to 2.15 i.e. it has become double in three years. The company still way behind from the industry average which has been around 3.4 in the last three years. If the stock is ignored from the current assets of the company, then the quick ratio of the company has also become quite strong incre ased from 0.64 to 1.65 such that it is heading toward the industry ratio of 1.84 quite smoothly. Leverage Analysis As far as the financial leverage of AMD is concerned, it can be observed that the financial leverage of the company has dropped from 14.01 to 4.9 in the 2009 and 2010. But the financial leverage of the industry is still quite high and moves around 15. The debt ratio of the company has decreased from 6. 56 to 2.16 which is a very good as the company has become less risky but still the company is quire risky as compared to the industry average which is still below 0.5 cumulatively in the three years. Efficiency Analysis Efficiency ratios mainly involve the movements of particular current assets and liabilities which include receivables, inventory and payables. The average collection period of the company has increased from 30 days to around 48 days in the last three years. The industry average revolves around 49 days. This suggests that the company’s performance ha s remained consistent with that of the industry. Inventory turnover of the company has also increased such that it has increased from 4.72 to 5.89, which is still lower than the industry averages of 7 to 8 turnovers per year in last three years. Profitability Analysis Profitability is the core area in which every stakeholder to the company is directly involved. Mainly three profitability ratios have been analyzed which are return on sales (net profit margin), return on assets and

A Study into the Process of Downsizing and Reengineering Essay - 2

A Study into the Process of Downsizing and Reengineering - Essay Example wnsizing and reengineering as well as practical applications need to stress total quality management (TQM), improvement of total level of strategic thinking, reengineering instead of downsizing whenever possible, process safety management (PSM), and other factors. Managing expert Geoffrey James argues that downsizing is one of the five stupid management concepts that should be cut from the management corpus (2010). â€Å"How, exactly, did the company get into a situation where it needed to fire people in order to remain competitive?†, James asks. Yes, markets can be unpredictable and things can change at the drop of a hat, but this is what management is for. Downsizing is a sign of company failure: It is a sign that the company did not anticipate the changing marketplace and grew too much or spent too much. Downsizing is passing the buck: Management failed, but workers pay the bill. When downsizing is required, CEOs should be fired, not improved. Reengineering needs to be conceptually separated from downsizing. Downsizing is almost by definition cutting down capital, particularly labor. It involves terminating peoples jobs, hurting resumes, economic dislocation and externalizing onto the system. But reengineering is a far more generic term. Reengineerings popularity has led to a backlash effect (Business Architects, 1999). It is often confused for downsizing, and thus has become negatively associated with the concept. Further, reengineering, unlike downsizing, can be conceptually â€Å"fuzzy† (Business Architects, 1999). Whats the bright line between reengineering and simply changing a companys strategic approach? If reengineering involves firing some people, isnt that downsizing? What if it merely involves some demotions, or some increases in responsibility without commensurate increases in pay? Nonetheless, reengineering is in fact very different from downsizing, and has unfortunately been falsely associated with do wnsizing when it is conceptually

Understanding and Promoting Children’s Development

Understanding and Promoting Children’s Development Sonja Eagle Here is a list of activities and the areas of children’s development involved: Climbing the ladder of a slide – Locomotive Skills- requires full body movements balancing on the ladder and at the top of the slide Gross motor skills- climbing Cognitive skills- how to climb the ladder Playing football in a team – Gross Motor Skills large limb movements. Cognitive skills – memory, problem solving and imagination e.g. playing the game, planning next move Moral development- choices and decisions (thinking of others and playing fairly) being a team player. Locomotive skills- walking, running Communication development- gestures, body language and communication Social and emotional development- acceptable behaviour Using a pencil to write their name and draw a picture- Fine Motor Skills – smaller more precise movements Cognitive development- memory, problem solving. Putting the pencil in the correct hand and knowing how to hold it. Using a knife and fork to eat a meal- Social and Emotional Development- social skills Fine motor skills – holding the fork and knife correctly Communication development- gestures, body language Cognitive skills- memory, problem solving e.g. putting the fork and knife in the correct hand. Expected Stages of Development Age Physical Development Cognitive Development Communication Development Social and Emotional Development Moral Development 0-6 months Simple movements waving arms and legs and rolls side to side and able to control head to follow people and objects. Language skills start to develop baby will begin to ‘babble’ which in fact is their new ability to listen, understand and recognize the names of people and the things around her. Pays more attention to human sounds than any other sounds. Babies will be laughing out loud anytime from two to four months and will giggle and kick her legs when being played with by four months. n/a 6-12 months Places objects into and out of containers Simple responses e.g. to sound, smell movement. Responds to own name. Becomes interested in mirror images. n/a 12-18 months Uses thumb and fore finger to explore objects, turns knobs and dials etc. Enjoys games such as peek -a-boo. Gets excited when sees a familiar face. Begins to show defiant behaviour. n/a 2-3 years Can make own vertical and horizontal and circular strokes with a pen or crayon. Able to match colours, some shapes and pictures. Uses pronounces, I, you ,me etc. Can take turns in games. Testing the boundaries. 3-5 years Becomes primarily left handed or right handed. Enjoys imaginative, co-operative and creative play. Able to follow instructions with more at least two elements. Understands the concept of same and difference. Capable of dressing and undressing themselves. They still expect adults to take charge, but instead of trying to avoid punishment, they follow rules because they want to be viewed as good. 5-7 years Copies triangles, squares and geometric patterns. Has opinions and can see others viewpoints. Speaks in complex sentences. Sometimes demanding and sometimes eagerly cooperative. Children can also feel bad when they are punished, because they can feel that they have upset someone else. This is because her morality is becoming empathy. 7-9 years Able to run and change direction accurately. Experimentation and creative activity. Vocabulary extends from 4000 to 10,000 words. Has needs for possessions and can be possessive. Children of this age have a strong sense of what they should do and what they should not do. 9-11 Years Improving bat and ball skills. Conversations develop, can express views and share ideas. Able to use more complex writing skills, longer sentences with adjectives, punctuation and conveying ideas with clarity. Greater awareness of others, feelings, needs, rights etc. Understand and value fairness, and perceive morality as a social contract in which rules must be obeyed in order to be liked. 11-13 years Facial hair, musculature, etc. and continued loss of milk teeth. Able to concentrate for extended periods of time and dislikes interruptions. Able to adapt language for different occasions, informal and formal. Developing strong opinions or beliefs which may lead to conflicts and arguments, may take longer to forgive and forget. Tries to weigh alternatives and arrive at decisions alone. 13-19 years Faster running and other physical movements such as, swimming ,diving, balancing etc. Develops specific interests and has competitive traits so enjoys showing off developed skills and abilities. Appreciates more sophisticated humour and wordplay. Clearer sense of cause and consequences of own actions. Greater awareness of complex issues that affect others e.g. religion, politics. Understands about rights and wrongs and consequences of actions. Experiences feelings of frustration, anger, sorrow, and isolation. A good overview of the expected patterns of development at different ages. Influences on Development How does foetal alcohol syndrome develop during pregnancy? Foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is caused when a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy. The alcohol can cause birth and developmental defects to the baby. Alcohol can cross from the mothers blood to the babys blood by the placenta. Even a small amount of alcohol can damage the foetus. It is not known how much alcohol it takes to cause defects. The risk increases with moderate to heavy drinking, even social drinking may pose a danger. Any type of alcohol, including beer and wine, can cause birth defects. What are the signs and symptoms of foetal alcohol syndrome? The signs of foetal alcohol syndrome may include: Distinctive facial features, including small eyes, an exceptionally thin upper lip, a short, upturned nose, and a smooth skin surface between the nose and upper lip Deformities of joints, limbs and fingers Slow physical growth before and after birth Vision difficulties or hearing problems Small head circumference and brain size Poor coordination Mental retardation and delayed development Learning disorders Abnormal behaviour, such as a short attention span, hyperactivity, poor impulse control, extreme nervousness and anxiety Heart defects The classic symptoms of coeliac disease in children include: Failure to thrive Diarrhoea Muscle wasting Poor appetite Abdominal distension Lethargy Change of mood and emotional distress. Sickle cell disease includes: Fatigue Anaemia Swelling and inflammation of the joints Sickling crisis – leads to blood blockage in the spleen or liver. Sickle cell anaemia can also cause damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys and bones. Turner Syndrome occurs more often in girls, including kidney problems, high blood pressure, heart problems, overweight, hearing difficulties, diabetes, and thyroid problems. Some girls with the condition may experience learning difficulties, particularly in maths. Many have difficulty with tasks that require skills such as map reading or visual organization. short stature and lack of sexual development a webbed neck (extra folds of skin extending from the tops of the shoulders to the sides of the neck) a low hairline at the back of the neck drooping of the eyelids differently shaped ears that are set lower on the sides of the head than usual abnormal bone development (especially the bones of the hands and elbows) a larger than usual number of moles on the skin Edema or extra fluid in the hands and feet. Lack of vitamin/mineral Condition it may cause Signs and symptoms Vitamin B-1 Alcoholism Alzheimer’s disease Crohn’s disease Congestive heart failure Depression Epilepsy Fibromyalgia HIV/AIDS Korsakoff’s psychosis Multiple sclerosis Wernicke’s encephalopathy Loss of appetite Pins and needles sensations Feeling of numbness, especially in the legs Muscle tenderness, particularly in the calf muscles Depression Vitamin B-12 Reduced amount of oxygen in the body. Common symptoms include tiredness, lethargy, feeling faint, becoming breathless. Less common symptoms include headaches, a thumping heart (palpitations), altered taste, loss of appetite, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus). You may look pale. Vitamin C Crohn’s disease. Gingivitis Anaemia Bleeding gums Decreased ability to fight infection Decreased wound-healing rate Dry and splitting hair Easy bruising Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) Nosebleeds Possible weight gain because of slowed metabolism Rough, dry, scaly skin Swollen and painful joints Weakened tooth enamel Vitamin D Rickets. Cancer Increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease. Cognitive impairment in older adults. Severe asthma in children. Vitamin K blood clotting Blood clotting, which means it helps wounds heal properly. Calcium Osteoporosis Hypocalcaemia Rickets Easy bruising, where the skin is thin. Lack of blood clotting may lead to a haemorrhage in an organ of the body which can be fatal in areas like the brain. Weakness of bones/brittle. Potassium Muscle cramps in arms and legs Constipation Muscle weakness Dehydration Fatigue Frequent urination Nausea Vomiting Fainting Magnesium Weakness Tiredness loss of appetite Numbness Tingling Muscle cramps seizures abnormal heart rhythms Sodium seizures muscle fatigue muscle weakness spasms/cramps of muscles Iron Anaemic Tiredness Frequent infections Frequent colds Pale, sickly Tiredness Inability to concentrate Poor achievements in sports Personal factors are within the child such as, their personality, their health and wellbeing, medical needs, learning difficulties, speech and language, sensory impairment, disability etc. Having a disability could affect their development as they may have low self-esteem, may be isolated and have difficultly socialising with others. External factors can have a huge influence on a child’s life; the main contributor to this would be poverty and deprivation, which can limit their social status with friends. An example of this may be no mobile phone or computer to keep in touch with friends out of school. Lack of funds at home could have a huge impact on transport and educational resources, which could mean that the child is delayed in academic achievement. There are a range of external factors these can include a lack of parental skills thus leading to abuse, neglect, and undernourishment. This would impact the child’s development as they do not have the guidance and support of the parent regarding progress through education. A Loss of a parent through divorce, separation and death can lead to a lack of basic nurture, because of depression or grief ruling their family life, due to little family support. The child would not have a strong support network which would hold back their development in education. Children develop at different rates therefore, the sequence of development is more important than the age of development. For example, babbling their first words. Milestones are a rough guide of this, as all children differ in their rates of development e.g. different children will progress at different rates, such as the reading ability in children, this may be different from the expectations of adults. Another example would be that puberty can differ from the age of nine to sixteen years in girls. We need to be aware that there are factors that influence these developmental stages and know how to address their impact. Parents and professionals e.g. health visitors, teachers and support staff etc. Play a key role in providing environments that encourage development, they also help to make the child feel confident and help boost their self-esteem throughout each stage in their development. The rate of development is the speed at which a child attains a particular development aspect. The length of time a child remains at a phase of development might be influenced by the difficulties they face. For example, a child with speech and language difficulties may remain at the stage of speaking in simple phrases. We cannot expect all children to develop at the same rate, we need to be aware that there are factors that influence these developmental stages and know how to address the impact. A key factor is working at an appropriate pace when supporting development. For example, a selective mute means that the child will be delayed in the comprehension of speech and language. Another example would be that a neglected child would have low communication ability and hold back. Children with a learning or physical disability may be exposed to prejudice or discrimination at school because they may be treated differently than the rest of the children. They may be bullied or teased by other students which will affect their self-confidence and in turn affect their learning ability and development. Disabilities are categorised in different forms i.e. learning or physical. Early Intervention is important for children in the long term, so that any delays in development are identified as soon as possible and support can be put in place. Good. Having a Key Worker working closely with the child, means they can identify the child’s needs and can highlight any delays or difficulties within a particular area of their development. Speech, language and communication delays are a good example for this as, this could result in the child being a social recluse and unable to engage with their peers. An example of this is Selective mute, a lack of confidence and less able to manage their thoughts could lead to them experiencing emotional problems. Behavioural issues caused by the inability to communicate could lead to frustration and aggression. Good point. For example; the child will find it hard to form a relationship with other children. A delay to literacy acquisition would lead to poor recognition of vocabulary and production of sounds. This would cause a delay in their development and make it more difficult to keep up with their peers. To identify specialist advice and involvement of parents/carers is paramount so that a structured programme of intervention (e.g. IEP) is put in place as soon as possible, so that all agencies can work together and give appropriate support as early as possible. References Drinkaware.co.uk. (2013). Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Available: http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/check-the-facts/health-effects-of-alcohol/fertility-and-pregnancy/foetal-alcohol-syndrome. Last accessed 26/01/2014. Parent further. (2013). Ages 6-9: Emotional Development . Available: http://www.parentfurther.com/ages-stages/6-9/emotional-development. Last accessed 26/01/2014. DR Richard Draper. (2012). Turner syndrome. Available: http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Turners-Syndrome.htm. Last accessed 26/01/2014. NHS. (2012). Vitamins and minerals. Available: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-minerals/Pages/vitamins-minerals.aspx. Last accessed 26/01/2014. Parenting counts. (2014). Developmental timeline. Available: http://www.parentingcounts.org/information/timeline/. Last accessed 26/01/2014.